A proven path to a perfect score on the ACT/SAT (From a student who did it)
Originally drafted Summer 2023
Jack Beecher here.
Last week, I posted the final interview of the series of interviews I conducted with stand-out students going to top-level colleges.
If you have not yet watched those interviews, please go to our Youtube and give them a try. There is no better way to learn about college admissions than from those students who achieved incredible success just this last year.
If you’re pressed for time, check them out on Spotify and listen to them in the car.
Stemming from the interviews, however, I realized a common theme I wanted to discuss with you today: they all had excellent test scores.
And you might say, yeah that’s kind of obvious, they’re going to top-level schools, but it’s the way they talked about their test scores that stood out to me.
They acted like their 36s, and high 1500s weren’t that big of a deal. It almost seemed easy for them to get those scores.
So today, I’d like to break down the shared methods those students used to get perfect/great scores stress-free. And in addition to relying on the accounts of those students, I’m going to reference my own experience because I, like them, also achieved a perfect score—a 36 on the ACT—with minimal stress.
Jack Beecher's Actual ACT Breakdown...He's now at Dartmouth
Here’s how I'd recommend doing it:
1.Take the Test Blind
Whatever test you’re planning to take, ACT/SAT, take it blind first. What does that mean? It means don’t study. Schedule a test date. Show up. Take the test. Maybe do some preliminary research on the format and time restraints of the test first, but outside of that, just take it. If you’re not sure which test to take, take both.
This is exactly what I did in my journey to a 36. I showed up as a little 8th grader to the testing center scared of the older intimidating kids. I had signed up for the ACT and knew nothing about it. I took the test confidently, however, and scored a 26. This was my first experience.
I then took the test blind a second time during my Sophomore year. I didn’t do much studying besides briefly reviewing some English rules and scored a 34—36 on reading and science, 35 on math, and 30 on English.
2. Analyze For Your Weakness
In most scenarios, you will have a weak area of the test. For me, as stated above, it was the English section. I knew that I wasn’t that good at English, so I took note of that and scheduled another test.
3. Study Your Weakness in Deep Work Blocks
English was my weakness, so before my final test in which I scored a 36, I sat down for an hour most mornings and studied English. That was it. I probably spent around 20 hours across 20 days before my test studying the English section. The thing that made these 20 hours more effective than 100s of hours of prep however was that I didn’t touch my phone or do anything else. I only worked on English. That’s the most important principle; do the actual work at hand so you have more time to mess around later. That was my strategy and it worked.
4. Use Test Prep Books and Practice Tests to Make the Test Boring
By the time you walk into the test center to get your perfect score, the test should be boring. There should be absolutely no stress around it. You’ve taken so many practice tests and done so many practice problems directed toward your weakness that you’re ready.
In my story, this was exactly the case. I walked into the testing center like a star athlete walks onto the field: full of confidence. I like to refer to my strategy through the lens of a Kendrick Lamar lyric, "We out here rotating under the five P's, Proper preparation prevents poor performance." If you prepare properly, which the deep work blocks will help you do, you prevent poor performance. It’s that simple.
Now, I’m sure you’re wondering what test prep books are best, and in reality, I have no idea, but the one I used was Barron’s ACT 36, and it seemed to have worked pretty well. (Coaching note insert: Yes, this is a great one. Also The Official ACT Guide is equally great).
If you have any questions about standardized testing, feel free to join and post them in our College Confidence Community.
Jack (Beecher)
Former CC.us Program Member
Now a student at my dream school, Dartmouth College
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